South Downs: Restoration and Access

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the objectives of their plans to bring farmland in the South Downs into public ownership under proposals being prepared in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by certain agencies associated with that department; and
	What is the estimated cost of their intention to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs in each of the next five years under proposals being prepared by officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by agencies associated with that department; and
	Whether their intention to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs under proposals being prepared in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by certain agencies associated with that department, will include compulsory purchase; and
	How many hectares of farmland are to be purchased in the South Downs with public money in each of the next five years under proposals being prepared by officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by agencies associated with that department; and
	Which organisations have been consulted, formally or otherwise, about their intention to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs under proposals being prepared by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions or by agencies associated with that department.

Lord Whitty: Her Majesty's Government have no current plans to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs. The Countryside Agency has submitted a bid to DETR for additional funding for a new restoration initiative involving research and piloting demonstration projects, building on and integrated with existing initiatives to restore open downland and provide access to it in the South Downs. This could involve a number of mechanisms, of which targeted land purchase on the open market might be one. However, detailed proposals have not yet been developed. The Countryside Agency is currently discussing its preliminary ideas with a range of local organisations.

Merseyside Objective 1 Single Programming Documents

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that the Merseyside Objective 1 Single Programming Document will be submitted to the European Commission for approval on 20 June.

Lord Whitty: The outstanding issues on all the Objective 1 Single Programming Documents are in the process of being resolved and they are on course to be submitted to the European Commission in time for approval at the June Committee meeting.

Waste Incineration Directive

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord Whitty on 9 April (H.L. Deb., col. 699) on what dates there were communications between officials of the Department of the Environment (and later the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the draft Incineration of Waste Directive and in particular upon the matter of small incinerators specialising in disposal of animal carcasses; between which individuals any such communication took place; and in what terms.

Lord Whitty: All the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Air and Environment Quality Division of the Department of the Environment, and subsequently of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, has included the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in all inter-departmental contact on the proposal for a waste incineration directive since the European Commission's initial soundings on its first working paper in February 1994. This includes the period of discussions of the "working paper on the incineration of waste" in meetings of national experts convened by the European Commission from April 1997 to summer 1998.
	There was numerous and frequent correspondence between DETR and other interested departments, including MAFF, following the German Presidency's decision to take the draft waste incineration directive to Council Working Group at the start of its term of office in January 1999. Meetings of interested government departments, including MAFF, concerning the proposal were also held on 25 January, 19 March and 14 May 1999. DETR and MAFF officials additionally met bilaterally on 16 April 1999. MAFF concerns about the implications of the proposal for animal carcass incinerators were raised in a letter from the Minister of State of 16 February 1999 and were discussed at all the subsequent meetings involving the two departments.
	The Council of Ministers is currently considering the European Parliament's amendments to the waste incineration directive Common Position, including those affecting the scope, at official level. DETR and MAFF remain in close contact during these negotiations.

Agricultural Buildings and Council Tax

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take into account the difficulty of obtaining planning permission for the conversion of uninhabitable farm properties before making the owners of those properties liable for council tax.

Lord Whitty: Non-domestic agricultural buildings are exempt from non-domestic rates and council tax does not apply. Also, if a domestic property is derelict it will not constitute a dwelling for the purpose of the council tax.
	Where an unoccupied dwelling is entered on the council tax valuation list but requires or is undergoing major repair works or is undergoing structural alteration, it can benefit from up to a year's exemption. We believe this is a reasonable period of exemption, after which the dwelling is subject to 50 per cent council tax whilst it remains unoccupied.
	Government guidance in PPG 7--The Countryside--encourages the re-use of rural buildings and should be taken into account by local planning authorities in preparing development plans and in individual development control decisions. In preparing the Rural White Paper we are considering whether that guidance might be strengthened or clarified, consistent with the principles of sustainable development.

Tourism and the Planning System

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will publish the report of their research findings on the impact that the planning system has on the development of tourism.

Lord Whitty: The research project on Planning for Leisure and Tourism is now in its final stages. We hope to publish the report soon.

Mobile Phones: House of Lords Rules

Lord Williams of Elvel: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	What are the rules governing the use of mobile phones within that part of the Palace of Westminster controlled by the House of Lords.

Lord Boston of Faversham: The following rules relating to the use of mobile phones in the House of Lords were agreed by the Offices Committee in July 1997 [HL Paper 20, Session 1997-98):
	Mobile telephones must be silent in all public areas of the House including the Chamber; mobile telephones may be used only in offices or where conventional telephones are located, and mobile telephones may not be used while moving round the Palace.
	Mobile telephones may not therefore be used in Refreshment Department premises or the Library.

Husbandry Panel on Cattle TB: Report

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the report of the independent Husbandry Panel on Cattle TB.

Baroness Hayman: The panel's report is published today. Copies are being placed in the Parliamentary Libraries and will be made widely available. I would like to thank Dr Clive Philips, the panel chairman, and his colleagues for their work. The Government will now consider the panel's recommendations in consultation with the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB and other interested parties before deciding how best to take them forward.

Genetically Modified Crops: Objections Process

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why Members of Parliament should be charged the sum of £30 when lodging an objection to the introduction of a genetically modified crop with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Baroness Hayman: No charge is made to anyone objecting to the DETR or the FSA about the approval of GM crops or foods. If any new information is provided which calls into question the relevant safety assessments, this would be considered carefully and appropriate action taken. The Novel Foods applications process has, from December 1999, been made yet more open by the publication of UK applications for novel foods on the Internet.
	The fee in question appears to relate to the statutory requirement under the national list regulations for making written representations about proposed national list decisions and applies equally to GM and conventional varieties. The requirement pre-dates the advent of GM plant varieties and was introduced to help meet the cost of operating the representations and hearings arrangements in the national list system.
	The national list system does not itself address the safety aspects of GM traits. This is dealt with under quite separate legislation. No GM plant variety may be proposed for addition to the national list until the appropriate GM consents have been obtained.

Sentencing Decisions: Home Office Review

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to introduce new sentencing arrangements.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: As part of our objectives of reducing crime and dispensing justice fairly, we have already put in place a comprehensive programme of work to reduce the rate of reoffending. This includes ensuring that the prison and probation services work more effectively together; improving the enforcement of community penalties; developing programmes, in custody and in the community, which are known to reduce reoffending (based on the "what works" strategy) and building on the opportunities which new technology opens up.
	Together these developments present an opportunity to consider possible new forms of sentences which better protect the public and reduce reoffending. In particular, they open up the possibility of a more flexible sentencing structure in which the boundaries between custodial and community penalties are less rigid. However, the current legal framework established in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 may not be best suited to an approach of this sort. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has therefore decided to review that framework. The review will complement that of the criminal courts being conducted by Lord Justice Auld. Its terms of reference will be:
	"In the light of the Government's objectives to protect the public by reducing crime and reoffending, and to dispense justice fairly and consistently, to consider what principles should guide sentencing decisions; what types of disposal should be made available to the courts in order to meet the overarching objectives; the costs of different disposals and their relative effectiveness in reducing reoffending; what changes therefore need to be made to the current sentencing framework, as established by the Criminal Justice Act 1991, so as more effectively to reduce reoffending, including any transitional and consequential arrangements; and the likely impact of any recommendations in terms of costs and the effects on the prison population. In particular, the review should bear in mind the desirability of promoting flexibility in the use of custodial and community based approaches."
	The review will be led by a senior official from the Home Office. I want it to be a rigorous, evidence based exercise. It will operate in an open way, involving and seeking views from as wide a range of interests as possible. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary expects it to take about 12 months from now to produce recommendations, which will then be the subject of formal consultation.

European Parliament Elections: Review

Baroness Mallalieu: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to complete the review of the 1999 European parliamentary elections.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The review has been completed and copies have today been placed in the Library.

Journalists' Sources of Information: Protection

Baroness Jeger: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any public demand that judicial proceedings should not be brought against editors and writers who, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, refuse to submit their sources of information to the police; and, if so, what is their response.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government know of some recent concern in relation to police investigations into alleged offences under the Official Secret Acts.
	Sections 11, 13 and 14 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 afford "journalistic material" special protection. It is recognised in Section 9 of the Act, however, that there are occasions when it will be right to allow the police to seek an order from a circuit judge for the production of such material. Failure to comply with a production order will leave it open for the judge to punish the person concerned for contempt.
	This procedure is compatible with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which, in its third paragraph, recognises that freedom of expression carries with it duties and responsibilities. It sets out areas where that freedom may be subject to restrictions if they are provided by law and necessary in a democratic society. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights makes similar provision.
	It is quite proper for the police to use these powers to investigate allegations of criminal wrongdoing and they should do so free from government direction or interference. It is also right for the courts to determine where the balance should lie between journalistic freedom and the other interests recognised both by the covenant and the convention.

Exports Invoiced in Dollars

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of total exports of goods and services worldwide they estimate to be invoiced in dollars or dollar-related currencies either by virtue of destination or by type of product or service.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Information is not available on the proportion of total exports of goods and services that are invoiced in dollars or dollar-related currencies. Customs and Excise are engaged in a project which is examining the feasibility of the production of this information for trade in goods. However, no results are available yet.

Export Receipts Paid in Euros

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of total export receipts are paid in euros or euro-participating currencies.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Information is not available on the proportion of total export receipts that are paid in euros or euro-participating currencies. Customs and Excise are engaged in a project which is examining the feasibility of the production of this information for trade in goods. However, no results are available yet. .

Royal Parks Review

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 3rd February (WA 52) that they would publish their decisions regarding the conclusions and recommendations of the Review of the Royal Parks "as soon as Ministers had the opportunity to consider them", when they intend to publish their decisions on this matter.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The review has not yet been completed. Further work is being done following consideration of the draft report prepared by the independent consultant. Ministers have not yet seen the report. Once they have done so and reached decisions on the review's recommendations an early announcement will be made in Parliament.

BSE Research

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are aware of any experimental results that show that, when cattle infected with BSE are used in the preparation of substances used in making human vaccines and injectible medicines, no infectious material reaches the final product; and, if not, whether they propose to sponsor any such research.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Research into the pathogenicity and epidemiology of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy has been extensive. Last year this Government spent over £26 million on research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. There has been no specific research to detect these agents in medicines. However, when bovine materials are used in the manufacture of some human vaccines and some injectable medicines, manufacturers are required to comply with the European Note for Guidance on Minimising the Risk of Transmitting Animal Spongiform Encephalopathy Agents via Medicinal Products. This requires careful sourcing of the bovine materials such as from countries where there have been no reported cases of BSE, the nature of the animal tissue used in the manufacture, and the production process and its control.
	For injectable products that do not include bovine material as an ingredient in the finished product, purification processes designed to remove the material are used. The manufacturers of such products are required to provide validation of those processes to the Medicines Control Agency. For products that include bovine material in the finished product, compliance with the guidance minimises any risk of the presence of BSE infected material at any stage of the manufacturing process.

Young Asylum Seekers

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Department of Health will issue revised guidelines on the care of young asylum seekers; and
	Whether they will put arrangements in place to identify young asylum seekers better and to provide the statistical information necessary to plan better and more effective local services; and
	What consideration is being given to placing young asylum seekers as close as possible to their relatives or community.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have commissioned a review of possible different models of care for unaccompanied asylum seeking children and to consider what changes might be made to the current guidance. This should be completed in the summer. Officials at the Home Office and the Department of Health are currently working together to improve arrangements between the two departments in relation to unaccompanied asylum seeking children, and this piece of work includes considering the production of a database of information on unaccompanied asylum seeking children. It also includes discussion with the local authority associations about how to ensure up-to-date information about the numbers of such children supported by local authorities. Both elements of the work should be completed by the summer. The issue of placing unaccompanied asylum seeking children as close as possible to relatives and their community is being considered in these processes.

Mycobacterium Bovis Infections

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of human infection by Mycobacterium bovis have occurred since the inception of tuberculin testing of cattle in the United Kingdom; and how many occurred as a result of ingestion of infected cows' milk and how many from infected meat.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In the 1950s, prior to controls being undertaken, cattle to human transmission was thought to be responsible for over 2,000 human deaths a year and many more non-fatal infections. The main route of transmission was believed to be milk. Following the introduction of pasteurisation of milk and controls in cattle including the tuberculin testing of cattle, the numbers of confirmed human Mycobacterium bovis infections have fallen to around 40 a year, averaging 1.2 per cent of confirmed tuberculosis cases between 1993 and 1998. Many of these infections are in older people and are thought to represent reactivation of old disease. When infection occurs in children it is recently acquired. Between 1994 and 1998 only one of 342 (0.3 per cent) confirmed cases of TB in children aged 0 to 14 years was identified as Mycobacterium bovis. It is not clear whether this particular infection was contracted from infected milk or meat.
	Following the Krebs report on TB in cattle, the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Veterinary Officer have set up quarterly liaison meetings to review the number of cases of Mycobacterium bovis in humans and animals.

Severely Disabled People and Income Support

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy in relation to the cases of severely disabled people whose income support is reduced by as much as £18 per week to pay for essential social services provided by their local authorities; and what action they have taken, or will be taking, in such cases.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Our White Paper Modernising Social Services recognised that the scale of variation in discretionary charges for non-residential care is unacceptable. We are considering all the options for changing the current system, and will consult representatives of service users, carers, local authorities, and other interested parties.

Millennium Dome: Future

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the final shortlist for the proposed uses for the Millennium Dome after the Millennium Celebrations will be announced.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government has announced today that two proposals have been selected to go through to the final stage of the competition. Detailed proposals and indicative financial offers were invited from the bids shortlisted in January. These two bids were chosen from a strong field of the five bids remaining in the competition.
	The bids in the final shortlist are Dome Europe, an advanced leisure, business and retail attraction, proposed by the Principal Finance Group of Nomura International plc, and Legacy plc, a high technology industrial campus of workspace, leisure and retail uses, proposed by Robert Bourne.
	In reaching this decision, the Government has evaluated the bids against the published criteria and has taken into account the views of umbrella organisations in the area and the public responses to a national consultation exercise held in April. Details of the public consultation results have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	We will now work with the bidders to develop these proposals further and will proceed to a decision in the summer on the winning proposal.

EU Employment and Social Affairs Council

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of the Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 8th May.

Baroness Blackstone: My right honourable friend the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunties represented the UK at the Employment and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 8th May. There were two items on the agenda: the Broad Economic Guidelines 2000 (BEGs), prepared by Economic and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) in accordance with Article 99 of the Treaties establishing the European Community; and Article 13 (non-discrimination).
	In the discussion on the Broad Economic Guidelines, the UK supported the emphasis on structural reform but argued that more attention should be given to tackling social exclusion. The Presidency undertook to write to ECOFIN summarising the views of the Employment and Social Affairs Council and said that he had received an assurance that ECOFIN would not be invited to finalise its draft of the BEGs until it had received the views of the Social Affairs Council.
	The Presidency reported on the negotiations on the two proposed Directives and the action programme brought forward under Article 13 (non-discrimination). The Presidency noted that a number of issues remained to be resolved but hoped to register progress at the SAC on 6th June.

Armed Forces Discipline Acts: Consolidation

Lord Brett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the consolidation of the Service discipline Acts.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We recognise the importance of updating the legislation governing discipline in the Armed Forces. It has been the intention for some time to consolidate the Army and Air Force Acts 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act 1957. We have been taking stock of the consolidation in the light of the changes to the present legislation made by the Armed Forces Discipline Bill and the likelihood of further changes in the quinquennial Armed Forces Bill in the next Session. A further consideration is the Government's intention, indicated in the Strategic Defence Review, to replace the three present Acts with a single tri-service Act. It is planned that the substantive development of this important project should get under way as soon as the quinquennial Bill is enacted and that, when the work is complete, the resulting legislation should be introduced when the parliamentary timetable allows. As a consequence, legislation consolidating the present Acts would be likely to have an effective life of only a few years.
	We have therefore concluded that the most sensible approach would be to subsume consolidation within the development of the tri-service Act, the purpose of which will be to provide legislation that better meets the requirements of the three services in an increasingly joint environment.